True Value – April 9, 2025

Read: Philippians 3:4-14

Whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
Philippians 3:7

True Value

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Do you know anyone who collects sports cards, Pokémon cards, or other cool collectibles? Andy collected baseball cards when he was a boy in the 1980s. In 1985, he spent his newspaper route money to buy packs of baseball cards and was super excited when he pulled out five rookie cards of a young player named Mark McGwire.

In 1998, Mark McGwire broke the single-season home run record. His rookie card became super valuable—each one was worth thousands of dollars! Now an adult, Andy thought about selling his cards. Then he thought, “If they’re worth thousands now, just imagine what they’ll be worth in a few years!”

So, Andy didn’t sell any of his Mark McGwire rookie cards. But then, in 1999, rumors started that McGwire had cheated by using steroids to become bigger and stronger. In 2001, another player broke his home run record. Just like that, the value of his cards crashed.

The same cards that were once worth thousands were now only worth a few dollars each.

The apostle Paul once thought he had something really valuable, too. He thought he was earning his way to heaven by being a good person and doing everything right. He thought God loved him because he followed all the rules and was better than others.

For a long time, Paul believed all the good things he did were worth a lot.

But then something happened. Jesus appeared to Paul on the road to a place called Damascus. Jesus showed Paul that he had it all wrong. Paul realized that, even though he thought he was good, he was actually hurting people and making bad choices. He learned that he couldn’t earn God’s love—because God already loved him!

Paul discovered that God loved him no matter what. Even though he had messed up, Jesus had already taken his punishment on the cross. God forgave him completely.

In the end, Paul realized that what he thought was so valuable was actually worth nothing. But in Jesus, he found a treasure that would never lose its value.

Closing Prayer:

Dear God, please forgive me for all the times I treat other things as more valuable than you. Help me remember that your love is the greatest treasure of all. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• What is something you really love, or think is important? Can you think of anything even more important than that?
• Why do you think some people might care more about things like toys or money than about Jesus?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• What do you think it means that God loves you just because you’re you, not because of anything you do?
• Name at least one way you show that you love God.

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Why do you think Paul called the things he tried to do to earn God’s love “garbage”? What do you think he meant by that?
• What are some “good things” you do because you love God? How do those good things show God’s love to others?